Health Library

So you want to increase your energy level but don’t have the drive to tackle even the bare minimum? Your problem may not be so much a lack of energy as overriding fatigue, which may be a symptom of an underlying condition.

For example, fatigue that’s accompanied by unexplained weight gain, dry skin and increased sensitivity to cold may be caused by hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid. Anemia may be the reason for excessive fatigue. Telltale signs are breathlessness, palpitations and paleness. If you’re menstruating, your periods may be heavier than normal. Other possible causes of extreme tiredness: Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or depression.

The main thing to be aware of is that persistent, unexplained fatigue is not normal. See your healthcare provider if extreme tiredness lasts for weeks, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as swollen glands, swollen joints, difficulty sleeping, reduced short-term memory, loss of appetite, persistent fever, recurrent headaches, night sweats, persistent cough or a red rash that resembles the bull’s eye of a target.